Mapping how electrical brain stimulation affects brain cells

Interrogating the propagation of electrical stimulation across scales in vivo

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · NIH-11159457

This project aims to understand precisely how electrical brain stimulation affects brain cells, which could help improve treatments for various conditions.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11159457 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Currently, when doctors use electrical brain stimulation, they often have to try different settings to find what works best, because we don't fully understand how it affects brain cells. This project aims to change that by using advanced tools to precisely map which brain cells are activated by different stimulation patterns. By gaining a clearer picture of how electricity travels through the brain, we hope to uncover why some treatments are effective and others are not. This deeper knowledge could help develop more targeted and successful brain stimulation therapies in the future.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational work is not directly recruiting patients, but future clinical applications could benefit individuals with neurological conditions currently treated with or considering electrical brain stimulation.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this foundational research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise and effective electrical brain stimulation treatments, reducing the need for trial-and-error adjustments for patients.

How similar studies have performed: While electrical brain stimulation is a known clinical method, this project uses novel, advanced techniques to address significant gaps in our understanding of its precise effects at a cellular level.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.